Predict Addict Blog

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Buffon Saves Italy

World Cup winners Italy were minutes away from being knocked out of the Euro 2008 by Romania. Gianluigi Buffon saved a late penalty from Adrian Mutu, which kept Italy in the Euro 2008.

Mutu had given Romania the lead lifting the ball over Buffo after a poor back header on 55 minutes. Romania's lead only lasted a minute as Christian Panucci touched in Giorgio Chiellini's header.

Result

Italy 1-1 Romania

Co-hosts Austria Given Lifeline

Austria were given a Euro 2008 lifeline equalising via a penalty in stoppage-time against Poland.

Artur Boruc made a string of saves to keep Poland in the game as the co-hosts should have been 3-0 up after 15 minutes. However, Poland took a surprise lead on the half hour mark with Marek Saganowski cross come shot was poked home by Roger Guerreiro.

Austria chances of qualifying for the quarter-finals were given a glimmer of hope when English referee Howard Web judged that Mariusz Lewandowski had hauled down Sebastian Proedl. Up stepped substitute Ivica Vastic and he slammed the penalty home to become the oldest scorer in European Championship history at the age of 38.

Result

Austria 1-1 Poland

Croatia Surprise Germany

Croatia beat Euro 2008 pre-tournament favourites 2-1 to reach the quarter-finals. Darijo Srna scored the opening goal for Croatia on 24 minutes when he bead Marcell Jansen to Danijel Pranjic's cross and fired home.

Germany then gifted Croatia a second goal on 63 minutes when Ivan Rakitic's cross deflected off Luka Podolski hitting the post and rebounding into Ivica Olic path who tapped the ball home.

Podolski pulled a goal back with a late strike on 78 minutes, his guy doesn't know how to score a normal goal. However, all hope of scoring the equaliser faded when Bastian Schweinsteiger was sent off in injury time for pushing.

I predict that Croatia would pull a surprise or two and they don't get much bigger than beating Germany. Germany now have to avoid defeat to qualify for the quarter-finals.

Result

Croatia 2-1 Germany

Ronaldo Show Arrives At Euro 2008

Cristiano Ronaldo show finally arrives at Euro 2008 after scoring one of the goals and then setting up another as Portugal beat the Czech Republic 3-1.

Portugal took the lead on eight minutes after Deco prodded the ball past Petr Cech. Portugal's lead didn't last long as the Czech Republic equalised when Libor Sionko headed in from a corner on 17 minutes.

The teams went in level at half-time and it is was hard to separate the teams, but in the second half Ronaldo came to life and finally lit up Euro 2008. Ronaldo restored Portugal's lead on 63 minutes clipping in a low shot from inside the box. Portugal extended the lead further when Ronaldo used his pace to break and squared the ball for Quaresma who slid the ball into the empty net.

Portugal victory meant they qualified for the quarter-finals as Turkey had already beat Switzerland in the match before. I predict Portugal will be at the finals and may even win it, if luck goes their way.

Will Luiz Felipe 'Phil' Scolari be affected after he was named as the new Chelsea boss? I don't think so as the man isn't easily distracted and will want to bow out of the international stage in style.

Result

Czech Republic 1-3 Portugal

Co-hosts Switzerland Knocked Out

Euro 2008 co-hosts Switzerland are the first team knocked out of the competition after they lost 2-1 to an injury time winner from Turkey.

The Swiss had started so well taking an early lead when Hakan Yakin tap in on 32 minutes from close range after the ball had slowed on a heavily drenched pitch. Turkey levelled the score when Semih Senturk headed on 57 minutes.

Swiss hearts were finally broken when Arda Turan cut inside and scored with a shot in injury-time which deflected into the goal.

Defeat for Switzerland meant they could no longer qualify for the quarter-finals, but the win has given Turkey a real chance and the game against the Czech Republic will determine who else qualifies from Group A.

Result

Switzerland 1-2 Turkey

Holders Lose To Sweden

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored his first goal for Sweden since 2005 with a stunning strike on 67 minutes. The second goal was scrambled home by Sweden's Petter Hansson on 73 minutes. Greece are apparently the current holders, but on this display they looked nowhere near the team that shocked Europe four years ago.

Basically Greece's involvement in the competition is over and I can't see them qualifying. However, Sweden's chances have been given a boost and they have a good chance of getting a result against Russia.

Result

Greece 0-2 Sweden

Spain Thrash Russia

David Villa became the first player to score hat-trick at the Euro 2008 as Spain thrashed Russia 4-1 in the opening game of Group D. Roman Pavlyuchenko scored a consolation for Russia with a header on 86 minutes, but Cesc Fabregas headed his first goal for Spain to seal the victory.

Spain's forwards looked on fire especially David Villa, but the movement of Fernando Torres was excellent. If Spain can perform like this every time then they will have a good chance of going all the way to the final.

Russia were disappointing considering they qualified instead of England, I'm sure England would of given Spain more of a game and not just rolled over.

Result

Spain 4-1 Russia

Magical Dutch Stun World Cup Holders Italy

The Netherlands gave a master class in counter-attacking football to the current World Cup holders Italy. This game was the most entertaining so far, for a neutral fan is was refreshing to see a game with both teams going for the win from the start.

The Netherlands got lucky with the first goal as Ruud van Nistelrooy was offside when he deflected the ball into the back of the net. However, the second goal was a joy to watch, with Italy attacking from a corner one minute and Wesley Sneijder hitting the back of the net the next. The third goal was another flowing counter-attack started by Edwin van der Sar's brilliant saves from Fabio Grosso and Andrea Pirlo before Giovanni van Bronckhorst finished off the move by heading the ball passed Buffon after 80 minutes.

If the Netherlands keep this form up then they must be favourites to reach the final and win the tournament. They really were a joy to watch, fast flowing football. However, the world champions Italy have a mountain to climb with Romania and France to face. They must get over the defeat quickly otherwise they will find themselves on the plane home early.

Result

Netherlands 3-0 Italy

France Fail To Impress Against Romania

France failed to beat Romania, which could become costly in the 'group of death' Group C. Both Patrick Vieria and Thierry Henry were missing from the starting line-up and without these two players France struggled to create any chances. Romania will be the happiest of the two teams with a draw as they still have a say in who will qualify from this group.

I predict France will struggle to qualify as they have to get a result against the Netherlands and Italy.

Result

Romania 0-0 France

Podolski Double Sinks Poland

Tournament favourites Germany sink Poland with Luka Podolski scoring both goals. Polish-born Podolski slid home his first from close range after a pass from Miroslav Klose on 20 minutes. Podolski added his second with a rasping volley that flew passed Boruc on 72 minutes.

Germany didn't ignite the competition with this performance, but they've started the competition in typical German fashion and will probably make the finals.

Result

Germany 2-0 Poland